No More Excuses!

Spring is in the air! Break out the swimsuits!

I know you are thinking...Shelly, really? You are probably saying it feels like 96 degrees in the shade – and that it is more like summer is in the air...I know, I know.

On the update and positive side, my small mango trees have sprouted new leaves. The grown mango tree in my front yard which did not give us any mangoes for the last few years is heavy with young grafted mangoes and my pumpkin patch is full and overflowing. If you want to buy a pumpkin, let me know.  

Spring is always associated with renewal. If you observe nature, it appears to rejuvenate itself. The grass and leaves are greener and everything just seems brighter. If you are fortunate to get showers, they are cleansing and refreshing. If you live close to the beach like  I do in Anguilla or near a lake or river, the water is warmer and more inviting!

As corny as this may sound...I have been feeling like spring...Renewed and rejuvenated. I have been praying, laughing, singing, dancing and loving.

As you saw in my three month challenge, I am tackling new self development and professional development projects which help to give that sense of renewal. In addition, I have had the opportunity to follow through and complete some activities which I wasn’t looking forward to but which went pretty well. Finally, I have confronted the pockets of frustration which have been nagging at the back of my mind...and lo and behold – I feel refreshed and renewed.

I know most of you can relate. There are areas in your life which you want to improve but excuses are holding you back. There are activities which you have to do which you may not want to do or like to do but maybe fear of failure or ridicule is holding you back. There are people or situations in your life which are frustrating you but your voice is not being heard.

Mary Mary said it best ‘Nobody told me the road would be easy, but I don’t believe he’s brought me this far, to leave me. As you ‘Say Yes to Today’, my advice is to demonstrate faith, courage and positivity in whatever you step out today to do.

A couple of people including my two lovely aunties are doing my three month challenge. Thanks aunties and others. Good luck! If you have started the challenge, we are almost two weeks in. I hope it is going well. Continue to say yes to today and constantly improve!

Remember to post a comment below. Thanks!

Birthday Smiles - Thank You!

Today I turned 29.

I believe most women and probably most men engage in some sort of reflection when they celebrate each birthday. I think we tend to reflect even more at the end of each decade. Today I turned 29 and I am so grateful to God simply for that. I will take a moment to reflect on and pray for the families of those I know who were unable to achieve this milestone.

I have had a tremendous 29 years. I know a faithful God; I have a wonderful family, a loving boyfriend and numerous terrific friends around the world. I have a great education and I have travelled to four continents. I have health, inner and outer beauty and strength. I have determination and ambition in abundance. I am grateful for the blessings and opportunities which have come my way and to all those who have played a part in shaping who I am today.  

As I embrace my 29^th year and look towards the start of my 30’s, I can’t help but be excited about what lies in store. I have no doubt that there will be numerous challenges and opportunities ahead of me as I continue to create and shape a future which will continue to make me happy.

To all those who took the time to wish me Happy Birthday today, I would like to say a great big thanks! To those who have been faithful friends and family members and who have offered constant support and encouragement over this year and previous years, you are my heroes. Thank you!

If you clicked on this blog – thank you! Please share and stay tuned in to say-yes-to-today.blogspot.com as together we seek to make a change in our life, our community, our nation and our world.

I love you all.

3 Month Challenge: I DARE YOU!

I am inspired!

Incredible stories of perseverance never cease to amaze and encourage others, even more so when these stories are witnessed in our daily life. I have a great friend who has lost over 100 pounds. I am so proud of her. Her determination, her hard work and her faith show that we can truly do anything we set our mind to. I will write a blog telling her story in the near future.

By now, you all know that I am a goal setter. Goals are dreams with a deadline. I would like you to join me in my three month challenge. I will set some goals and you will set some goals. We will check on the progress of our goals each month. So here we go! These are some of my goals for the next three months.

Goal 1 - Physical

 Develop and implement a weekly weight lifting, resistance training and strength building routine. The result should be more toned arms and increased strength and flexibility at the end of three months.

As we age, women lose muscle mass particularly if we are not active. Women are encouraged to do light weight lifting or its equivalent to build muscle.

Goal 2 - Spiritual

Engage in daily devotions. I am positive that for many of us we have the intention of doing daily devotions but somehow life gets in the way. I am so thankful for this wonderful life that I have and I need to ensure that I give God the recognition and thanks for that.

Goal 3 - Financial – Make and save X dollars over the next three months (really guys? I can’t share everything with you J)

Finances - the dreaded ‘F’ word. These days when most people talk about finances, it is to mourn and groan and complain. Yes, we do make less and yes, food prices are ridiculous. However, we do still have some control over what we spend, where we spend and on whom we spend. Take a long hard look at ‘how’ you spend and I am sure you will find there is some potential for you to save and build up that savings account.

Goal 4 - Intellectual

1)    Recruit students and complete at least two classes for my Personal and Professional Development courses.

2)    Develop and market a new course

Goal 5 - Relational

Reach out and build stronger relationships during this period to Optimist members and friends who I may not have had much contact with so far for 2012.

So there you have it guys. I have put myself and some of my goals for the next three months out here on my blog for the world to see. Please note that even though I have set a three month time limit, this does not mean that I will stop pursuing these goals after three months. That is just my initial deadline.

The three months starts on March 15^th 2012 and ends on June 15^th 2012.

You can choose to share your own goals with me too by posting a comment below.  Even if you don’t, do join me in my three month challenge. I DARE YOU to Say YES to this challenge today!

Wish me luck! Best of luck to you too!!! You will be great.

Why I am never bored in Anguilla!

Anguilla! It is truly ‘one of a kind.’ It is my island home.

I actually wanted to start another blog focusing on ‘Why I love Anguilla’ but then I had to take a step back and say...girl you are way too busy...focus on what you are currently involved in now. I will start that blog though eventually!

I was speaking to a friend and I asked what should I blog about today. She suggested blogging about why so many Anguillians cannot swim and do not go out to enjoy our beaches while visitors come from so far away to enjoy our beaches and swim and dive in our azure blue waters.

So why is that? I guess it boils down to the fact that most of us do not appreciate what is right in front us. I have lived in North America and in the United Kingdom and yes there are things in these countries which I like and certainly things I dislike but honest to God, for me, there is nowhere like home.

Where else would a rooster be crowing in the middle of the night when dawn is still hours away? Where else can I sit on the porch and enjoy the wonders and beauty of the stars which are not obstructed in any way at all by sky scrapers or pollution. Where else do I have the right and the privilege to enjoy 33 beautiful beaches any day, anytime, anywhere and where else would I have the choice of a five star restaurant or a local road side bistro all within fifteen minutes drive?

I very fondly remember my childhood growing up in Anguilla. I don’t ever remember being bored. My cousins, my neighbours, my friends...someone was always around. I remember going through the bush looking for popes and berries with my cousins, long drives to East End on the back of a pick up to climb trees and pick mangoes on our land there, flying kites, playing marbles, playing catching and dolly house and of course the picnics on the beach (I dreaded washing my hair though and still do!).

As an adult, Anguilla is still this wonderful place where I am never bored. So outside of the myriad of activities which I engage in during my volunteer and professional life, my favourite Anguillian experiences in recent times are

1)      Watching my boyfriend pick coconuts and then watching him cut them out. By this time, my young neighbours Liha and Nari would have made their way over to my yard. I would listen to them chatter and we would all enjoy some coconut water and jelly. Yummy and refreshing!

2)      Hanging out with my family and friends....whether it is a movie night, games night, picnic, fish fry, barbeque or breakfast or dinner at a top class restaurant, we always have a great time.

3)      Hikes and excursions with the National Trust. Anguilla and its neighbouring cays are amazingly beautiful and thanks to Farah and her team I have enjoyed some terrific, exciting and sometimes sobering experiences!

4)      Sunsets and Sunrises on the beach – whether or not I am swimming as I indicated in a previous blog, walking on the beach and watching the sea relaxes me. Sharing this experience with a loved one doubles the pleasure.

5)      Music and talking, laughing and dancing under the stars and the good thing about Anguilla is that the stars are visible from everywhere.

So that’s my list – these days I am pretty low key but if you are looking for more activity, I know there are terrific local acts and parties in and around the island amongst many other things. My point is we all just need to get out more and to appreciate what we do have. Take the word ‘bored’ out of your vocabulary. 

Anguilla isn’t perfect and the recent criminal activities will continue to affect all of us if we don’t speak out. We have always marketed Anguilla as virtually having no crime. Outside of the tourists personally, I want to be able to continue to enjoy this island paradise without fear. What about you?

So what are your favourite childhood memories growing up in Anguilla and what Anguillian experiences do you enjoy most today? Post a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you. Say yes to not being bored today!